In the immortal words of Megamind, the difference between a villain and a supervillain lies in one important factor: presentation. Any dollar store thug can just swagger into the scene and start throwing hands, but it takes a real villain, a true master of disaster, to make a grand entrance that leaves all onlookers stunned.
Whether through bombastic appearances, pointed moments, or in some cases, the distinct absence of those elements, these video game baddies didn't just show up. They arrived, and you'd better keep your eyes front and guard raised when they come in swinging for you.
10 Ganon - The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
After Link successfully defeats Ganondorf and rescues Zelda in his castle, the two of them make a daring escape as Ganondorf's dying hatred tears the place down around them. They manage to successfully escape the castle just as it crumbles down to its foundations. That's not the end of it, however.
As Link inspects the rubble, Ganondorf rises again and, infused with the energy of the Triforce of Power, transforms into the beast he was always destined to become. As he lands on his feet, his name appears: Ganon. Unlike every other boss in Ocarina of Time, Ganon has no title or epithet. He doesn't need one; his very presence speaks for itself.
9 Jergingha (Planet Destruction Form) - The Wonderful 101
The Wonderful 100 manage to infiltrate the GETHJERK flagship and confront their leader, the Machine World Jergingha. Jergingha reveals the truth of the GETHJERK's mission and employs the team's Wonder Mask tech against them, but they still manage to destroy him with a shot from the Virgin Victory's cannon. Unfortunately, despite what you'd think, destroying Jergingha's brain doesn't even remotely stop him.
After the team escapes the ship, it sheds its outer shell, revealing Jergingha's actual body, his Planet Destruction form, punctuated with a classic Gunbuster pose. In the ensuing enemy scan, the Virgin Victory can't even get a read on him. He's too big, too powerful, too... everything!
8 Revolver Ocelot - Metal Gear Solid
Solid Snake stumbles upon the ArmsTech President, Kenneth Baker, stuck in the middle of an intricately wired explosive trap. As he wonders how to get him free, a soft yet stern voice advises him to stand back. Enter Special Operations FOX-HOUND: Revolver Ocelot.
Entirely unprompted, Ocelot begins performing spinning tricks with his signature Colt Single-Action Army revolver, followed by expounding the virtues of such an excellent gun. It's a rather low-key entrance compared to some of the others on this list, but the sheer audacity to make yourself known and start performing gun tricks deserves recognition.
7 The Radiance - Hollow Knight
Throughout Hollow Knight, the true antagonist of the story is somewhat vague. There are flashes of a bright light behind the eyes of those who have succumbed to the Infection, the very same that enrage the imprisoned Hollow Knight. With the power of the Dream Nail and an assist from Hornet, the Knight is able to enter the Hollow Knight's mind to confront the truth of the matter.
Within his mind, the Knight finds a seemingly infinite realm covered in clouds and sunbeams, presided over by a glorious sun. There don't seem to be any enemies present, but the Knight draws his nail and issues a challenge nonetheless. It is then that the sun itself sprouts wings and appears in front of the Knight, revealed as the ancient moth entity known only as The Radiance.
6 Daisaku Kuze - Yakuza 0
As Kazuma Kiryu attempts to evade the Dojima Family's ongoing hunt for his head, he escapes into Kamurocho's sewers. Unfortunately, the sewers were a trap; as Kiryu makes his way through the darkness, a light shines at the end of the tunnel. Dojima Family lieutenant Daisaku Kuze comes storming down the tunnel atop a motorcycle, metal pipe dragging and sparking along the way.
Kiryu manages to evade the bike, but Kuze, absolutely furious at Kiryu's defiance of the family (not to mention losing a finger because of him), gets off and attacks with his pipe, eyes bulging and red in the face. Kuze is absolutely resolute in beating Kiryu to death at this moment, and good heavens, does it show.
5 Morpho Knight - Kirby And The Forgotten Land
As Kirby and Elfilin explore the mysterious Forgo Dreams to rescue the dreaming Leongar, they finally come upon him in a dreamlike rendition of Lab Discovera. Using the scattered pieces of his soul, they manage to revive Leongar, but he is taken over by the spirit of Fecto Forgo.
Kirby manages to exorcise Forgo's soul from Leongar and prepares to fight the spirit head-on when suddenly, everything comes to a stop. An orange butterfly floats in, lands on Forgo, and in an instant, steals its body away, reforming a moment later as the mysterious Morpho Knight, an unexpected intruder in this world of dreams.
4 Undead Ned - Borderlands
At the end of Borderlands' Zombie Island of Dr. Ned expansion, you come face to face with the titular doctor, newly revealed as a bad guy (who knew?). Ned takes you on in a firefight, aided by his zombie minions, but is fairly easily dispatched like any other human combatant.
After his death, the credits for the DLC begin to run when suddenly, a claw reaches out and tears them up from the static behind. Glancing directly at you from the fourth wall, the newly resurrected Undead Ned chuckles, announcing that it's not over yet. It's the kind of reveal guaranteed to make you go "HOLY F*#KING SH*T!!!" to use the in-game parlance.
3 The Magician - The House Of The Dead Series
As AMS agents G and Rogan reach the heart of the Curien Mansion in the original House of the Dead, the doctor himself greets them with a sarcastic chuckle and a wave of the hand: his ultimate masterpiece is finally complete. With a spark of lightning, the Type-0 Magician is unleashed. Powerful and defiant, it kills Curien and prepares to take on the agents. They open their case file to find its weakness, but it's completely unknown.
Of course, we can't talk about the Magician without highlighting his comeback in House of the Dead 2, launching himself out from Goldman's Headquarters with a massive explosion and revealing his maggot-ridden, reassembled body. In both games, his iconic theme music is the cherry on top of the entrance.
2 Father Rodin - Bayonetta
After you collect a cumulative 10 million Halos in Bayonetta, a special Platinum Ticket appears in Rodin's store. The description notes that giving this ticket to Rodin would restore the powers he had before becoming a fallen angel. Upon purchase, Rodin excitedly notes his return to form and desire for a "party."
Rodin sucks Bayonetta into an otherworldly realm, and a moment later, he's clad in a resplendent white robe, tattoos glowing with rainbow light. He doesn't say anything else; he merely chuckles and makes a "bring it on" motion. In case you still weren't sure what you were in for here, the appearance of his epithet, "The Infinite One," will probably give you a hint.
1 Asriel Dreemurr - Undertale
Throughout Undertale's story (or stories, rather), Flowey the Flower makes himself known as your direct antagonist, using the power of the human Souls to transform into a giant monster. On the True Pacifist route, however, he finally plays his hand, using both the human Souls and the Souls of every monster in the Underground to assume his true form.
With a flash of light, a young monster child is revealed. He gives a friendly greeting and asks if you remember him before another flash reveals him as the all-powerful being, Asriel Dreemurr. Normally, when your combat interface pops up in a boss fight, there's some kind of quip, but in this case, all it says is "it's the end."